Third Trump assassination attempt ‘probably’ prevented, sheriff says

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Calhoun Ranch, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Coachella, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

COACHELLA, Calif. – Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Sunday that he believes authorities might have stopped another assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

Bianco made the statement after a  man was arrested near Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley on Saturday, allegedly with a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.

“We probably stopped another assassination attempt,” Bianco told reporters.

Deputies assigned to the rally contacted the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint near the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive just before 5 p.m. Saturday — before Trump’s arrival — sheriff’s officials said.

They allegedly found the driver in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun and a high-capacity magazine.

The driver was identified as 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, and was taken into custody and later booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm and possessing a high-capacity magazine.

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Miller was released Saturday on $5,000 bail, and was scheduled to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on Jan. 2, according to the department’s inmate database.

At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Bianco said deputies detained the suspect at a second checkpoint after they noticed that the interior of his vehicle “was in disarray,” that the vehicle had a fake license plate and the suspect had “multiple” fake passports and fake driver licenses with different names.

The sheriff said the vehicle’s phony license plate was indicative that Miller was a member of the so-called Sovereign Citizens group, who do not believe they are subject to any government regulations, including those for guns and vehicles.

According to Bianco, the both guns in Miller’s possession were unregistered, and he had multiple boxes of ammunition for both weapons.

Bianco doubled down on his earlier assertion that he believes “We probably stopped another assassination attempt,” despite Miller’s claim that he was not there to harm the former president.

In comments to Southern California News Group, Miller said he supports Trump and only had the guns for protection.

“I’m an artist, I’m the last person that would cause any violence and harm to anybody,” Miller told the newspaper group.

According to Miller, he was invited to the Coachella Valley rally by the head of Clark County’s Republican Party. Miller is a caucus captain for Trump in Nevada, according to the report.

He also said he was unaware of the differences between gun laws in Nevada and California.

SCNG described Miller as a registered Republican who holds a master’s degree from UCLA and ran for state Assembly in Nevada in 2022.

Bianco told SCNG earlier Sunday that he believes Miller planned to kill Trump, and that deputies arrested him after Miller presented fake VIP and press passes at the checkpoint.

“They were different enough to cause the deputies alarm,” Bianco said.

The sheriff was dismissive when asked about Miller’s claims to the newspaper group.

“We know that we prevented something bad from happening, and it’s irrelevant what that bad was going to be,” he said.

According to the sheriff’s department, the incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event. Anyone with additional information about the suspect was encouraged to contact Deputy Coronado at 760-836-1600.

Bianco said further potential charges against Miller would be up to federal authorities, and said the department had engaged with the Secret Service and the FBI.

The US Attorney’s Office issued the following statement Sunday afternoon:

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office U.S. Secret Service, and FBI are aware of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office’s arrest on Saturday. The U.S. Secret Service assesses that the incident did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger.

While no federal arrest has been made at this time, the investigation is ongoing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, and FBI extend their gratitude to the deputies and local partners who helped ensure the safety of last night’s events.”

Trump had not commented on the arrest as of Sunday.

“A beautiful evening in Coachella, California last night. Thank you!” the former president posted on X, along with a video of the crowd at the rally.

Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Penn., on July 13 by a man who was subsequently shot dead by authorities.

On Sept. 22, a man was arrested after the Secret Service allegedly saw him pointing a rifle from shrubbery on the West Palm Beach, Fla., golf course where Trump was playing. (With CNS report)